Strong Style Mascot Sets

Many collectors have lambasted the small scale of Character Product's Mini Big Heads
line. The 2 inch minifigures on a fixed base with head sculpts lifted directly from
Toukon Shop/Charapro's action figures.
 
Blog #158 focuses on minifigure bundles with an even smaller scale. Today, we'll be
looking at Toukon Shop's NJPW Strong Style Mascot Sets.


                            


Starting in 2000, Toukon Shop would begin releasing several sets of minifigures
with stationary items such as pencils, clips and key straps. The sets were officially
called "STRONG STYLE マスコットセット" (Strong Style Mascot Set).

The above set featured Masahiro Chono, Kendo Kashin, Jushin Thunder Liger
and Great Muta.



I always found Great Muta's depiction here to be a bit outdated; seeing as Keiji
Mutoh had already shaved his head one year prior to the start of the Mascot Sets
and had temporarily abandoned the Muta gimmick during this time (only to
resurrect the character again a year later when Mutoh jumped to AJPW in 2002).

The Liger from the set with his thumb down. Pretty "evil" if I might add!



The back of the packaging with instructions on how to attach the minifigures.

Dubbed the "STRONG STYLE Mascot Set 2", this set features Yuji Nagata,
Keiji Mutoh, Hiroyoshi Tenzan and Riki Choshu.

Also included are a black NJPW strap and a miniature NJPW ring!

The miniature ring looks like an early version of the NJPW ring featured in the
Pro-Kaku Heroes Mini Big Head figures Strong Style sets.



One of Keiji Mutoh's earliest post-head shave figure depictions.



The back of the packaging shows great portraits of all four Wrestlers.

The next Mascot set features (clockwise) Masahiro Chono, Yuji Nagata, Hiroyoshi
Tenzan and Manabu Nakanishi.

A miniature NJPW ring and strap are also included.

                            

Again, a miniature ring playset is bundled with the mascot set.

                          



This particular set was released in 2002.

Closing thoughts:

Mascot figures have been a staple of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's wheelhouse since
the early 1990's. Pencil toppers, keychains, clothing, posters, and even replica
ring wear and masks.

It's worth noting that the Strong Style Mascot series contains some of the very last
figures to feature of Keiji Mutoh/Great Muta before Mutoh jumped to rival promotion
All Japan Pro-Wrestling in 2002. The Mascot Series are also some of the smallest
minifigures ever produced for Toukon Shop/Character Product as each figure stands
no bigger than 1 inch in height.

In 2003, Toukon Shop/Character Product would re-imagine their approach to
minifigures with the popular Pro-Kaku Heroes Mini Big Head figures line. A
line, just like the Mascot series, would come bundled with a Mini NJPW-themed
ring playset to jumpstart the series.

Who wouldn't want to take Great Muta or Jushin Thunder Liger with them wherever
they go? How about rocking out in the office with the most stylish pen imaginable
that is topped off with a Masahiro Chono figure strap?

With the Strong Style Mascot sets, these dreams can become a reality.

Stay tuned for more figure reviews!

NJPW Coin Banks Review

Welcome back to the largest online archive for Japanese Pro-Wrestling merchandise on the web.
In this blog, you will find thousands of product photos and information associated with the
fascinating world of Puroresu and beyond.

Today, we'll be taking a look at another obscure piece of merchandise from the mid
to late 1990's. Blog #145 is all about the New Japan Pro Wrestling Coin Banks
(Heavyweight and Junior Heavyweight versions).

We'll start with the Heavyweight class:

The coin bank features four of New Japan Pro-Wrestling's top stars from the era (from left to
right): Shinya Hashimoto, Masahiro Chono, Kensuke Sasaki and Keiji Mutoh.

The left side of the packaging contains pictures of Kensuke Sasaki and Kendo Kashin.

From the top of the packaging, you can see glimpses of Jushin Thunder Liger and
Shinya Hashimoto.

The right side of the packaging contains great photos of Masahiro Chono, Satoshi Kojima and
Keiji Mutoh.

The concept of the bank itself is based on the four presidents depicted in the famous
American monument Mt. Rushmore.

I believe Toukon Shop were responsible for creating this piece as the four heads look similar
to the individual busts Toukon Shop also released around the same time of these Wrestlers.

The base reads "新日本プロレスリング" (New Japan Pro-Wrestling).

Like many figures from the late 90's and early 2000's, the coin bank was another unfortunate
casualty to a special type of gold paint that discoloured into a green hue from over the years.

Even when removed fresh from it's packaging (which also included plastic shrinkwrap).

The back of the coin bank includes a coin slot and an imprinted NJPW Lion logo.

The majority of the discoloration trickled down to the bottom of the base. Having the
bank shrinkwrapped for 20 something years probably didn't help either.

The coin bank stands no more than 5 inches tall and is very light-weight. I suspect the bank
may be made out of plastic or (more likely with Japanese figures) PVC material.

The second coin bank in the series is the Junior Heavyweight division.



Packaged examples of both weight divisions.

The Wrestlers featured in the Junior Heavyweight version are (from left to right):
Koji Kanemoto, Jushin Thunder Liger, Shinjiro Ohtani and Kendo Kashin.




The green discoloration was a common theme with the golden coin banks. As seen in the
above photo.

Both classes had two variants: silver and gold (four banks in total to collect).

Overall, a unique and interesting addition to the line of New Japan Pro-Wrestling merchandise
that was presented in the 1990's. They make great display pieces and serve a practical function:
save up your coins for more Puroresu figures!

Stay tuned for more Japanese figure reviews coming your way!

Toukon Shop Keiji Mutoh & Masahiro Chono DX figure set review

Welcome back to the largest source of Puroresu collectibles information on

the web.

For blog #132, we'll be taking an in-depth look at another exciting figure two
-pack released by Toukon Shop in the late 1990's. Get ready to turn heel with
the Keiji Mutoh and Masahiro Chono NWO Japan DX figure set.

                        

Released in 1998 as part of Toukon Shop's "Strong Style Tag Figure Collection",
this two-pack would mark the first time figures of Keiji Mutoh and Masahiro
Chono would be packaged together.

The included Keiji Mutoh figure features a brand new head sculpt of Mutoh
and is the first figure ever to feature Mutoh with a full beard (the only other
figure being the12 inch version released by TAKARA around the same time).

Both Mutoh and Chono come with a pair of removable ARISTRIST (Chono's
official clothing line) necklace pendants.

Keiji Mutoh switched his orange trunks in the late 1990's for Wrestling tights
adorned with an array of graphics representing Mutoh's shocking heel-turn to
the NWO Japan stable.
The text on Mutoh's left pant leg reads "IF ANYTHING SHOULD
OCCUR".

                                


Wrestling trivia:
Mutoh's official heel turn took place on September 23rd, 1997 for New
Japan Pro-Wrestling's "NJPW G1 Climax Special 1997 - Tag 11 ~ Grapple
Climax" event which featured a tag match between Masahiro Chono & The
Great Muta against Kensuke Sasaki and Kazuo Yamazaki.

During the match, Masahiro Chono accidentally hit The Great Muta (
Keiji Mutoh's Wrestling evil alter ego) causing Muta to become enraged
and leave the ring abruptly.

Keiji Mutoh would return to the ring a short time later (stripped of his Muta
attire) and finish the match with his patented Moonsalt - shocking the Wrestling
world by celebrating in the ring with the members of the NWO Japan.

At long last, Keiji Mutoh had finally become a "full" member of the NWO.



                                  

The side of Mutoh's left pant leg also includes the NWO logo.

Mutoh's right pant leg reads "NONE OF YOUR TRICKS WITH ME"
(there's also an "A" beyond Mutoh's right knee pad).

The text on Mutoh's right knee pad reads "STUN"

...and the text on Mutoh's left kneepad reads "SLAM" (most likely a reference
to Mutoh's rib breaker and moonsalt).

Both figures also contain two matching staff accessories which are also
removable.

Next up is "Mr. Blackjack" himself: Masahiro Chono!

Masahiro Chono is featured for the first time ever in action figure format with

his black ring gear.
                                     

Masahiro Chono's shades are also removable.

As IWGP tag team champions, both figures include two IWGP championship
tag belts ...with the NWO logo spray painted over them!

I'm sure the U.S. NWO faction would be proud.

Keiji Mutoh and Masahiro Chono would become IWGP tag team champions
by defeating Kensuke Sasaki and Kazuo Yamazaki once again on October 19th,
1997 - less than one month after their last bout.

Pro-Kaku Heroes Masahiro Chono 25th Anniversary figure

In 2009, following the release of the final series of Pro-Kaku Heroes
Mini Big Heads (Vol. 9 back in 2007) ) Character Product would
release a special Mini Big Head of Masahiro Chono.

Like the "Jungle Fight" Antonio Inoki strap figure, the exclusive
Masahiro Chono figure was only available as a promotional item
that was included with the Masahiro Chono 25th Anniversary
DVD set.

                    

Like other Mini Big Heads, the Masahiro Choni figure comes
packaged in the standard cellophane wrapper.

                           
The Masahiro Chono exclusive is the fourth and final translucent,
see-through Mini Big Head exclusive.

The four see-through Mini Big Head exclusives.

                        

                       
The back of the Chono Mini Big Head contains the writing
"25th"and Chono's Aristrist clothing line logo in silver ink

The DVD and Mini Big Head set are a reference to Chono's
debut as Pro-Wrestler back in 1984 (the same year Jushin
Thunder Liger, Keiji Mutoh and Shinya Hashimoto also
debuted as Pro-Wrestlers).
       .

While the Jushin Thunder Liger figure was labelled as a "clear
black" variant, in true Chono fashion, there is no Mini Big
Head more darker than that of "Mr. Blackjack" himself!


Closing thoughts:

The Masahiro Chono exclusive 25th Anniversary figure is one
the most rarest and expensive Mini Big Heads to find in the
wild. A figure that is next to impossible to find at auction.

Character Product would continue to release a decent number
of 20th anniversary Mini Big Heads as not-for-sale exclusives
and as "Strap" figure variants. Many of which are truly elusive
to find.

Pro-Kaku Heroes - Pre-Release set (alternate color variants) review

Rewind: before the launch of the first wave of Pro-Kaku Heroes Mini
Big Head Figures back in 2004, Character Product released a special
four figure and ring set in 2003.

The set which was called the "Strong Style Pro-Wrest "Ring" & New
Japan Pro-Wrest Superstars" contained four of New Japan's most
popular Wrestlers of the era (since Keiji Mutoh and Satoshi Kojima's
departure to rival company All Japan Pro-Wrestling just a few year
prior).

     

 The set was only available at New Japan Pro-Wrestling's official

"Toukon" (Fighting Spirit) Shop for a limited time.

Now that we're all caught up on the original set. It's time for our
next figure review:


Pro-Kaku Heroes - Pre-Release set (alternate color variants)
                       
                   
Before the release of the first four waves of Pro-Kaku Heroes
in 2004, Character Product (in true New Japan figure fashion)
would once again re-release the four figure and ring set as extra
special alternate color variants.

Like the original ring set, the alternate color variants were only
available as New Japan's Toukon Shop exclusives.

For comparison purposes, I'll be placing the regular Vol. 1.5
"repaint" versions alongside each figure.

The rarest of the set is the Jushin Thunder Liger Mini Big Head

which features silver-foil paint for armor and blue stripes along
his ring tights.

Another minor difference is the small silver circle located in the
middle of Liger's top (on the back) which was painted black and
gold in the Vol. 1.5. version.

Toukon Shop would use the same design a few years earlier
for their common and full-sized Jushin Liger figure.

All five collectable variants of this Mini Big Head!

 

                    

The Yuji Nagata Mini Big Head is based on Nagata's early,
pre- "Blue Justice" attire.

                        

The only real difference between the two versions is that
the pre-release set features Nagata with a mustache while
the 1.5. version does not contain facial hair.                               

Justice is served! All four Yuji Nagata variants.

                                 

Next up is Masahiro Chono in his out-of-character gold hair
color.                                          

                                              
The most noticeable difference is the greenish hue used for the
alternate ring set version (most likely due to discoloration from
light exposure over time). Another nod to this design being released
before the debut of Vol. 1.

Thankfully, the same side effect isn't a problem with later gold-
haired figures from Mini Big Heads line.

Synchronized coolness: All four Chono [A] variants.

        

               
Another highlight from the alternate four figure ring set
is the super cool Hiroyoshi Tenzan Mini Big Head.

                                               

This armored look is based on a full-sized, deluxe Hiroyoshi
Tenzan figure released by Toukon Shop.
                                                                        

The alternate ring set version is the only Tenzan Mini Big
Head to be dressed in ring tights with a unique, silver-spider
web design and matching silver knee pads.  
                              

Rush!: All four Hiroyoshi Tenzan variants.

                      
Besides their subtle differences in coloring, the easiest way
to see if you own one of the ring set variants is to look on the
bottom of each figure's base.                                                               

The first ring set features a copyright stamp from 2003.

The second ring set features a copyright stamp from 2004.

Also, Jushin Thunder Liger's copyright stamp on both versions
also includes "Dynamic Planning" (which is the company owned
by the creator of the Jushin Liger character - Go Nagai).


Closing thoughts:
You have to hand it to New Japan Pro-Wretling for being so
involved with the promotion of Character Product's Pro-Kaku
line.

Not only are these alternate color variants extremely rare,
but their subtle differences make them interesting additions
to any New Japan collection; my absolute favorites being the
Silver/Blue Jushin Thunder Liger and the Silver/Black Hiro-
Yoshi Tenzan figures.


More rarities to come!